Scout1: An above average skater...showed the ability to make a solid
first pass...average vision of the ice...posesses a hard slapshot, but needs
to improve his accuracy...average positionally...needs to improve his defensive
game...must play his man more effectively.Scout 2: A good skater, capable of impressive bursts of speed...possesses
good agility...his skating skills make up for his lack of size...a solid stickhandler
who can make passes from both sides of the stick... possesses a solid vision...shows
an above-average offensive upside...likes to shoot the puck...a good variety
of shots, including a fairly accurate slap shot...on the defensive side he suffers
from the occasional positional breakdowns...needs to improve on his play in
the defensive zone...has to stay with his man all the way...isn't really soft,
but could use his body more when patrolling in front of his own net and along
the boards...Scout 3: One of the few right shot defensemen on the Russian
national team...similar playing style and body build to Dmitri Yushkevich...works
very hard...posesses a very good regard for the game and brings a mature attitude
to the game...average skater - not very fast or aesthetic, but nobody beats
him into the zone...still, needs to improve his skating...very tough and unforgiving
in the crease...if he was a bit taller, he would be a force to be reckoned with...posesses
a good first pass out of the zone...sees the ice well and is very reliable...average
technically - reliable but not overly creative with the puck.

Back In Russia:

2003-04 season: Spent the entire season with Severstal (Cherpovets)...consistently
appeared on Russia's '87 born squad 2004-05 season: Appeared
in five games thus far for Severstal in the Super League (Russia 1)...one of
the top blue liners on Russia's '87 born U18 squad. Please find Igor Nikitin's
tournament performance evaluations below.